So the P90 Thinline body arrived

[ThreeChordWonder]

All good, although it's going to need quote a bit of prepping as expected. The seller said so in his ad and I knew that when I bought it. But it does look VERY nice. A proper piece of 3/16 or 1/4 inch elm on top, not a paper thin veneer you'd sand through in a heartbeat.

I'm probaby going to end up with a minimalist custom pickguard, just big enough to cover the control cavity, so as much of the wood remains on display.

Question: with P90s, one volume or two? It'll only have one tone. I expect there isn't enough room for three pots and three knobs.

I might end up using a Switchcraft toggle instead of a Fender 3-way blade to get more knob room, and I'll be using Telecaster knobs.

 

[zionstrat]

Can't wait to see some photos!

As far as volumes, I often plan on a volume for each pup, but rarely use them and a master volume is probably more practical..

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Further investigation reveals the body is completely hollow in the upper bout, so I can fit a switchcraft toggle into the upper bout Les Paul style. That leaves enough room in the somewhat oversized Telecaster style control cavity for four pots, two volumes, two tones, which is probably the way I'm going to go.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

In the raw.

I've ordered P90 to mini humbucker pickup rings, which I hope are big enough. The control plate will be home made,, 3 ply cream probably,, just big enough to cover the hole..

 

[ErikH]

I would go Volume/Tone/3-way switch like a typical Thinline but that's just me. The pots might end up closer together than you want with 4 in that space.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

They'll fit with 1-1/2 inch centers, same as the closest centers (roughly) on my SG. I plan on using Tele style knobs too.

 

[GuitarDoc]

No switch?!

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Switchcraft up in the upper bout like a Les Paul was the plan...

But...

I'm thinking the forward knobs might get in the way of strumming, so most likely I'll use a standard Thinline pickguard, regular Fender 3-way and two knobs. The pickguard will be cut back to go around the P90s and pickup rings.

 

[beaubrummels]

P-90's don't have pickup rings? Or are you using PhatCats or something else?

You could also do stacked Vol/Tone if you really want the separation but don't have room.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

P-90's don't have pickup rings? Or are you using PhatCats or something else?

You could also do stacked Vol/Tone if you really want the separation but don't have room.

The P90s require pickups rings, or something, to cover up the gaps around them due to the oversized cavities (see picture). I'm trying to minimize the size of the pickguard / control plate to maximize the amount of exposed wood.

I could use stacked pots, I suppose, but this was more of a passing thought than anything else. After all, with a 3-way switch, mixing volumes and tones only comes into play in P2.

 

[ErikH]

Well, to make it look clean without putting pickup rings (which may look odd around a P-90) one option is the '72 thinline pickguard. Order it without the pickup routes (because P-90's aren't an option on it) and the cut the routes yourself or have someone do it.

https://warmoth.com/pickguard-tele-72thinline

Also check with WD Music. They may be able to make one with P-90 routes for you.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Thanks. I'll keep it in mind. I already have two sheets of picguard material, a spare pickguard and a router, so I can probably make my own, cut back to maximize the wood-i-ness:beerchug:

 

[ErikH]

That's cool. Something Thinline-like, maintaining the curves, but modified. I like it.

 

[Wound_Up]

In the raw.

I've ordered P90 to mini humbucker pickup rings, which I hope are big enough. The control plate will be home made,, 3 ply cream probably,, just big enough to cover the hole..

The rings should fit fine. That's what they, mini humbuckers, were developed for, specifically: To put humbuckers in guitar bodies that had already been routed for P90s without having to modify/route anything else out.

Gibson had all of these bodies routed for P90s and developed their mini humbuckers specifically to fit those P90 holes. That's why they exist; to replace P90s without modifying the guitar.

I thought this was common knowledge. Mini humbuckers will(should?) replace P90s with no modifications necessary. Install the ring and pickup and that's it afaik.

 

[formula73]

Those are universal cavities to fit anything mounted to a pg. Nothing but huge custom rings or pickguard mounting is going to cover those routs.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Well, when the $8 for a set rings I ordered arrive later today, hopefully, we shall see. I'm still hoping to avoid a huge pickguard, but I'm not averse to making my own rings out of colored lexan sheet if I have to.. it'll give me something to do while finishing the body.

Plan A, BTW, is to completely build the guitar, then take it apart again to stain and urethane the body.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Question:

I believe Gibson, at least, uses metal mounting plates in the bottoms of the pickup routes that are pre-drilled to accept P90s, mini humbuckers, possibly full size humbuckers also.

Any ideas where I can buy a pair or should I just use the long woodscrews provided with the pickups direct into the wood?

 

[formula73]

Question:

I believe Gibson, at least, uses metal mounting plates in the bottoms of the pickup routes that are pre-drilled to accept P90s, mini humbuckers, possibly full size humbuckers also.

Any ideas where I can buy a pair or should I just use the long woodscrews provided with the pickups direct into the wood?

No idea but I’m sure they’re out there. I’d much prefer those to wood screws.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

So the rings arrived and they're a nice close fit around the P90s and they fully cover the pickup holes. All good there. The only problem is that the screw holes lie over the radiused corners of the pickup holes. I'm going to glue some half round into the corners to turn them into 45 deg bevels instead and that should mean I can use the screw holes and the P90s will still fit. Once the covers are on you won't see the half rounds of course.

 

[jeremy]

glad you have a plan! look forward to seeing this progress along, seems like the outcome will be pretty sweet. if youre going mv, mt, and fender three way, its worth considering flipping the plate. i tend to like it that way but not everyone does